Chinese pastor who fought against official removal of Christian crosses is accused of embezzling

Authorities in Zhejiang say crosses are removed because they violate regulations against illegal structures

Chinese youths break dance in front of a church in a shopping district in central Beijing, China (Getty)

A Christian pastor who fought against Beijing’s drive to remove crosses from the outside of China’s churches is being investigated on suspicion of embezzlement, officials have said.

Authorities in Zhejiang say crosses are removed because they violate regulations against illegal structures. Rights groups say demolishing crosses restricts the religious freedom of Christians.

Pastor Gu Yuese’s Chongyi Church, which has a congregation of 10,000, is the largest Protestant Church in the Chinese-speaking world.

Mr Gu frequently met visiting foreigners and appeared at government-organised ceremonies, but had spoken out against the campaign to tear down crosses, according to some of his followers.

“We feel deeply shocked and filled with regret,” the government-backed Hangzhou Christian Council said of the investigation, in a statement on its website. It gave no further details of the charges or evidence against the pastor, saying simply that it had been notified by a “ relevant department”.

Despite his views, Mr Gu was seen by some as a poster boy for the officially sanctioned Christian Church in China, which is distinct from independent, illegal “underground” churches.

Zhejiang, on the country’s east coast, is known for its large Christian population.

REUTERS